Autism is a complex disorder of brain function that involves three basic symptoms: impaired social interaction, difficulty with verbal and nonverbal communication, and severely limited activities and interests. These symptoms generally appear by age three and may last throughout one's life. In recent years, individuals with more varied degrees of impairment and functioning have been diagnosed with autism-related disorders. Although definite similarities exist among people classified as autistic, the differences from one person to another can be profound.
HANDLE views Autism/PDD simply as labels for individuals whose attentional priorities are extremely limited from infancy or early childhood. This limitation is caused by irregularities in systems that support the senses and their interactions. Usually the forms of sensory stimulation these individuals tolerate are those that were not affected at birth with the sudden change from a wet and dark prenatal world to a postnatal world of air and light. Vision, for which there are no prenatal experiences, is frequently used by individuals diagnosed with Autism/PDD either just for an enchantment with the light, or to scan the periphery as protection from a sensed invasion by people and objects in the environment. For those whose label is a form of PDD (such as Asperger's Syndrome), the number/degree of sensory intolerances is less, allowing initial acceptance of more input and more interaction with the outside world.
Autism and the Pervasive Developmental Disorders are diagnoses that relate to individuals who demonstrate
There is a vast array of individual differences among individuals diagnosed with Autism or PDD. Some have biochemical imbalances: allergies, nutritional deficits, unusual levels of heavy metals, or other factors that effect the nervous system, blood brain barrier, and functioning. Some are head-bangers or have sleep disturbances. Many have irregular muscle tone. Most make unusual noises, twirl themselves or objects, and engage in self-stimulation. All are individuals.
Following a comprehensive observational assessment and interviewing caregivers, individualized programs of activities, nutritional guidance, etc. are designed for each client. These activities are then implemented at home or in daycare situations. During the period of home treatment, recommendations may be made for some compensatory measures, such as reducing the amount of extraneous sounds in the surrounding, or changing the type of lighting in the most common environment. HANDLE treatment for these disorders usually involves initial activities to increase the range of bodily movement (particularly to include the sense of "behind" in Autism), incorporating specific tactile and vestibular activities, and other activities, selected in a developmentally sound sequence. It frequently reduces individuals' resistance to experience the world. when they realize that the experiences they perceive as threatening are also felt by others who acknowledge them and then dismiss them.
"Our child has been diagnosed Autistic/PDD/Hyperlexic and his expressive and receptive language skills were at half his chronological age. We received at HANDLE the most careful, specific, and individualized assessment and services we have yet experienced in 8 years of contact with professional providers. We saw results within two weeks' time."
~ T. Geer